Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Flawed import-export policies have devastated soybean, cotton & onion farmers in state: Congress

Ramesh Chennithala, the grand old party's Maharashtra in-charge attacked the BJP government at the Centre and state, blaming them for the plight of farmers due to misguided, commerce-driven import-export policies.

Mumbai: Mounting a major offensive against the BJP-led NDA at the Centre and the Mahayuti dispensation in Maharashtra, the Congress said that the soybean, cotton and onion farmers are devastated because of its policies.

“Because of the flawed import-export policies of the central government, farmers in the state have been devastated. Prices have skyrocketed, yet fair rates for crops like soybeans, cotton, and onions are nowhere in sight. Instead of helping farmers,” AICC general secretary Ramesh Chennithala, who is Congress party’s Maharashtra in-charge, said.

Chennithala attacked the BJP government at the Centre and state, blaming them for the plight of farmers due to misguided, commerce-driven import-export policies.

According to Chennithala, Maharashtra has the highest rate of farmer suicides in the country. “While Maharashtra is the largest cotton producer, the government imports cotton from Brazil and Africa, leading to a drop in cotton prices and significant losses for farmers. Farmers struggle to recover even their production costs,” Chennithala said, urging the government to buy cotton at guaranteed prices through the Cotton Corporation of India.

"Soybean farmers face a similar crisis; although soybeans are ready for sale, prices are low. The central government’s large-scale palm oil imports have lowered soybean prices, while soybean oil prices have spiked. The price of an oil can that was Rs 1,600 a week ago has risen to Rs 2,150, but soybean itself does not even receive a minimum support price. Farmers thus endure a double blow from these faulty policies,” he said.

Speaking about onions, he said while Maharashtra’s onions face export bans, onions from Gujarat and Karnataka are exported.

"When export bans are lifted, export duties are raised, blocking exports again. Additionally, onions imported from abroad drive down local prices. Maharashtra’s onions are banned from export, while Karnataka’s export duty of 40% was lifted. The anti-farmer import-export policies of the central government adversely affect Maharashtra's farmers,” he said.